Sunday, December 27, 2009

New Crayons, This Week in Reviews, Awards and More Challenges (Historical Fiction, Global Reading)

I'm pretty much the only book blogger who got no books for Christmas. Haha. But it's ok because I got some money that I can use for books.

From the Library

Child of Dandelions by Sheenaz Nanji

In Uganda in 1972, President Idi Amin, also known as the Last King of Scotland, announces that foreign Indians must be “weeded" out of Uganda in ninety days. Fifteen-year-old Sabine’s life is changed forever. The president’s message, broadcast on the radio every day, becomes Sabine’s “countdown monster," and it follows her through days of terror. Sabine’s father is convinced that, as Ugandan citizens, their family will be unaffected, but her mother insists it’s too dangerous to stay. When her beloved uncle disappears and her best friend abandons her, Sabine begins to understand her mother’s fears. She becomes desperate to leave, but Bapa, her grandfather, refuses to accompany her. How can she leave him, and where will her family go to begin a new life?

-I'm super excited to read this book since I love historical fiction and it's about a poc! It's part of the South Asian Author Challenge along with the Royal Reviews: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. The challenge starts Jan. 1, 2010 and I'm reading it on that very day :)

Reading in Color Reviews Week of 12/20-12/27(Remember you may get 2 additional entries in my giveaway if you comment on reviews)

It's been a whirlwind of a week, but I want to review a book everyday until December 31st. I'm trying to get all the books that have been recommended to me reviewed before 2010!

More Challenges (I swear I'm done after this!)

Royal Reviews: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge -Why am I doing this challenge? Because I LOVE historical fiction and I want to spread awareness of historical fiction about poc. I know it exists and I'm eager to find all I can. I always have to shoot for the highest level in a challenge so I'm going for obsessed which means I read 20 books. Starts Jan. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2010

Here's my list-All YA and all about people of color. In no particular order.

1. Child of Dandelions by Sheenaz Nanji

2. Copper Sun by Sharon Draper3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Vol. 1: Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

4. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Vol. 2: Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

5. Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers

6. This Strange New Feeling: Three Love Stories from Black History by Julius Lester

7. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

8. Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttal Sayres

9. Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

10. Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz

11. Thin Wood Walls by David Patneaude

12. An Ocean Apart, a World Away by Lensey Namioka

13. Ties That Bind, Ties that Break by Lensey Namioka

14. The Stone Goddess by Minfong Ho

15. Zazoo by Richard Mosher

16. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

17. Sammy and Julianna in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz18. Secrets in the House of Delgado by Gloria Miklowitz

This one is probably my hardest challenge so I'm going to start with easy and hopefully I'll be able to upgrade! The Easy challenge involves reading a book from Africa, Asia, Australiasia, Europe, North America, and South America. From your own continent find a country, state or author that is new to you. I'll have to do some more research for titles, preferably YA.

I got a blog award! Like a really long time ago and I'm awful for delaying so long in putting up this post. Thanks so much Ah Yuan at Gal Novelty!

Here are the rules for this award:1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs (blogs you love!) Alert them so they know to receive the award.3.) Copy and paste this quiz... Change the answers, ONE word only. (2 are acceptable.

11. Your fear?death2. Where do you want to be in 6 years? College13. Where were you last night? babysitting14. Something that you aren't? math skills15. Muffins? Yes!16. Wish list item? Books!17. Where did you grow up? Chicago18. Last thing you did? Sleep

29. Your favorite color? purple30. When was the last time you laughed? today31. Last time you cried? Don't know32. Your best friend? hilarious33. One place that I go to over and over? school :(34. One person who emails me regularly? mom35. Favorite place to eat? Benihana's

Whew sorry for such a long post, but I had a lot of catching up to do! Happy Holidays :)

I didn't get any books for Christmas - but I did get a giftcard for Borders. I gave books to my nieces. Since I was so broke I went through my bookshelf and found four books that actually fit their personalities (one is really a nephew) and for a joke bought them matching tank tops from Old Navy. They actually seemed to like the tank tops. The nephew got a t-shirt, since I didn't think he'd appreciate a girls tank top. lol

Child of Dandelions sounds like a great book. I do have one question - after your list of books, on a couple of them you have in parenthesis "off-color". What does this mean?

@susan-I loved In The Time of the Butterflies and I'm eager to re-read it and review it :)

@Lyn-Thanks! I'll email you.

@mardel-I got some money, no giftcards for any bookstores. That's a good idea finding books that match your nieces and nephew's personalities! with matching tank topps, cute =)Off color means the books is not about a person of color. see my rating system in my sidebar.

@robin-Exactly! I have finals once I get back so that will leave me crazy busy. I'm glad you got some cool stuff, I did too so I'm happy :D

You are on a TEAR, Miss A! I can't believe how quickly yet thoroughly you read and review these great books. Today I pick up ASH from the library and I'm going to look for Child of Dandelions--sounds great. Thanks also for the award! Will get to that today.

@Zetta-I completely forgot to contact the people who won the award! Thanks for stopping by so often you noticed :) I CAN NOT wait to hear what you think of Ash. <3. I'm really eager to start Child of Dandelions, it's killing me having to wait for the challenge to start :) I'm amazed too at all the books I'm getting rea dan dreviewed. I'm glad my reviews are coherent, sometimes it's my jumbled thoughts because I loved the book so much I can't even think :D

I cannot figure out how I missed this! My very first blog award!!!! :D I'm so honored. I'm totally melting.

Okay, I have an exam this morning, but will take care of business as soon as the campus obligations are over. I will answer all 35 questions and post them on Friday Fun this week, on MR! Mood: ridiculously excited. This will be fun!

@hc-So glad to hear that you're going to read Child of Dandelions, I enjoyed it. You're welcome, I love that I gave you your first one, so when you get lots of them, I can proudly state 'I got the ball rolling' lol!

@Nathalie-I'm so sorry! I forgot to contact a few of the bloggers on the list (fatigue and forgetfullness settled in). Your blog and you deserve it! Best of luck on your exams :D

Join Us!

Tell the Publishing Industry that you're sick and tired of whitewashed covers and few diversity in books

Reading in Color Wishlist

See also my GoodReads to-read list, since I own almost none of the books on there. If you own any of these books and want to trade for them (or just give them away! hee hee) then please contact me! This list is in no particular order.

My Review Policy

I'm happy to review books that are sent to me when I can. Contact me if you want me to review your book willbprez (at) aol (dot) com

I prefer to review YA books about people of color. Occasionally, I will review a book with a white main character, but odds are, that I will decline.

However, I do NOT review blog novels or e-books. Sorry!

Furthermore, I will ALWAYS review books honestly so if you only want a positive review, that's not me. I blog with integrity.

Reading in Color Ratings & Explanations

5/5=<3 A.Must.Read. Preferably buy it, but if you can't or don't want to, go to the library! The book was amazing. 'Nuff said

4/5=Excellent. Great read. Strongly recommended to read.

3/5=Liked it. Good characters, plot, etc. Read it if you want to be entertained and aren't very nitpicky.

2/5=Decent. Hit or Miss. If you see it, read it, but don't go out of your way to look for it. Don't read if you only like really, really good books.

1/5=One or two ok things about this book. Disappointing. Hopefully the next one by the author will be better! I hope I never have to give a book this review :(

"IQ" stands for Incredible Quote. It's one of my favorite lines from the book. I pick one that really stands out, whether it's funny, inspirational or deep.

"Off-Color" a review of a book that does not have a poc in it. These will be rare and far in between. Uusally they will have a poc as a secondary character or be authored by a poc even if the mc isn't a poc.